Justin Olam #281

[TigerJunior4]

Terrible news for Olam and the club.

I don’t like our chances of securing a medical exemption given he has a history of knee injuries. I guess stranger things have happened though.

Best case scenario we get the exemption and secure an able replacement for this year. Otherwise we might have to use Bird or Turuva there.

 

[lathami]

attack very good, finds the line. Defence reggies standard and trials suggest no change.

He’s getting use to NRL built up in the off season. Got a good combo with Skelton, he will get better the more he plays firsts. His defence wasn’t that bad. He is a much better player than Toa, what’s he done in the trials, basically nothing. We need attacking weapons that No how to score tries. Which we lack, what your suggestions then? Naden out for 6-8weeks, toas shit!
Doueihi and faatape for me.
What I liked about the trials was the spirit of the team, they all got around a great hit or a try. I haven’t seen that enthusiasm for a long while. I don’t like our defensive organisation, but we will see.

 

[SeanT]

Klemmer contributed nothing so needs no replacement. We have plenty of middles
We do need an extra backrower and a centre.
Bula to centre where his non involvement is better suited and Mason to fullback.
Problem solved

Disagree. Klemmer like.Olam and a couple others would of been great this year.

Defensively he's at 95%, he trains hard and makes 120m a game. The way he attacks is alot to be desired but his effort and teamwork is 2nd to none. Would of loved him and Olam this year then move on.

 

[TCL]

Shame about Olam. Will be interesting to see who steps up. Not to keep harping on about it but I have been saying we need centres. It’s one area we lack in all grades.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Douhei and Toa are favourites…..we won’t see Olam play again

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

I dont want to rub it in but this is one of the reasons why I wanted to buy Euain Aitken this year, couldve covered it easily.

 

[TieDye]

I dont want to rub it in but this is one of the reasons why I wanted to buy Euain Aitken this year, couldve covered it easily.

LOL!

 

[jadtiger]

I dont want to rub it in but this is one of the reasons why I wanted to buy Euain Aitken this year, couldve covered it easily.

No no no

 

[Tigerdazz2]

I didn’t see that at all, saw mostly negative reactions to it

I certainly was against his signing & was shocked he "passed his medical". I recall saying something like "Bellamy stitched us up". I've also been saying for weeks that he was a "shot duck". I wish I was wrong and he ended up being a monster for us but there was a good reason Bellamy had him on the outer well before his name was even whispered in Tigers circles.

 

[SeanT]

Terrible news for Olam and the club.

I don’t like our chances of securing a medical exemption given he has a history of knee injuries. I guess stranger things have happened though.

Best case scenario we get the exemption and secure an able replacement for this year. Otherwise we might have to use Bird or Turuva there.

He was signed until next year right? Doubt we will pay for him next year. This year maybe.

Hard to gauge the rules..the top teams get away with it all the time..

 

[Tigerdazz2]

BREAKING: Tigers star considering medical retirement after off-season surgery​

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Fox League from Fox Sports​

February 24th, 2025 1:36 pm​

​

Tigers centre Justin Olam is reportedly set to be forced into medical retirement after struggling to recover from a knee injury that required off-season surgery.

That is according to Code Sports, who are reporting Tigers officials have given him space to make the crucial decision, having failed to feature in any pre-season fixtures.

Last year, the Papua New Guinea international played only 13 games, battling with injuries after making a move from the Storm ahead of the 2024 season.

The 31-year-old is reportedly earning around $600,000 per-season, with his current deal expiring at the end of the 2026 campaign.

That salary could be removed from the Tigers’ salary cap if Olam’s retirement is confirmed to be on medical grounds, however that relief is not guaranteed.

Tigers bosses will have to prove that Olam’s career was cut short due to a one-off event, not a chronic injury that plagued the centre’s fitness.


Olam has previously battled with knee injuries during his time at the Storm, however the issue that required off-season surgery was on the opposite leg.

Meanwhile, Tigers bosses are also awaiting confirmation of David Klemmer’s move to the Dragons, potentially clearing further cap space.

Therefore, should both players be off the club’s wage bill, the Tigers could have $1 million free on their cap to pounce on any free agents who become available.

Tigers star considering sudden retirement after off-season issue

Tigers star considering sudden retirement after off-season issue

www.foxsports.com.au

BREAKING: Tigers star considering medical retirement after off-season surgery​

​

​

Fox League from Fox Sports​

February 24th, 2025 1:36 pm​

​

Tigers centre Justin Olam is reportedly set to be forced into medical retirement after struggling to recover from a knee injury that required off-season surgery.

That is according to Code Sports, who are reporting Tigers officials have given him space to make the crucial decision, having failed to feature in any pre-season fixtures.

Last year, the Papua New Guinea international played only 13 games, battling with injuries after making a move from the Storm ahead of the 2024 season.

The 31-year-old is reportedly earning around $600,000 per-season, with his current deal expiring at the end of the 2026 campaign.

That salary could be removed from the Tigers’ salary cap if Olam’s retirement is confirmed to be on medical grounds, however that relief is not guaranteed.

Tigers bosses will have to prove that Olam’s career was cut short due to a one-off event, not a chronic injury that plagued the centre’s fitness.


Olam has previously battled with knee injuries during his time at the Storm, however the issue that required off-season surgery was on the opposite leg.

Meanwhile, Tigers bosses are also awaiting confirmation of David Klemmer’s move to the Dragons, potentially clearing further cap space.

Therefore, should both players be off the club’s wage bill, the Tigers could have $1 million free on their cap to pounce on any free agents who become available.

Tigers star considering sudden retirement after off-season issue

Tigers star considering sudden retirement after off-season issue

www.foxsports.com.au

There was already some money in the kitty. With both Klemmer & Olam gone there's something like $1.3 or $1.4 to play with on the open market.

 

[Lebanese_Coach_aspiration]

Jack Averillo maybe?
There was rumblings he was homesick, and besides doggs, tigers is the closest to da area. Maybe offer to pick up the tab? He has something we lack, speed.

I also remember he wanted to experience playing under Wayne and that is now obsolete.

 

[cone]

Mostly yes, but I reckon Faatape can be a good player. Not much difference with ziti from the guppies. He’s a massive try sneak, looks fitter this year.

I really rate him, everyone forgets he’s played one year of first grade and he’s only 22, I think he has tonnes of potential

 

[crazycat]

Oh well, it's done. Retire him, move on and don't make the mistake again. Looks like we have 2 centres coming through in Makasini and Tauaifaiga. Hopefully we can make do with what we have until they come through, or we sign an experienced strike centre for a few years.

Why not Faataape? For his first year he did as good as any other player in our back line bar Bula.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Sad reality even with a busted knee he was first picked last year but we still only have the same options to replace him this year

 

[lathami]

Sad reality even with a busted knee he was first picked last year but we still only have the same options to replace him this year

Glass half empty much?!?
Doueihi is back from injury
Faatape has a year of nrl under his belt.
Naden was playing better by all reports, also playing fir a contract.
Yes it’s not perfect but if we jag Taylan and have Makaski coming through
It’s not all doom and gloom!

 

[Tom Shines]

Has it taken all off-season to get to this stage where it’s looking like he is finished , but there are no options available now on the market to replace him?

The whole Olam experience has been a head scratcher … even us dopes here knew there were major red flags about his knee injury before he signed … he was clearly hampered by his injuries during his one week in, two weeks out playing career with the Tigers, but apparently they thought he was just going to get magically better on his own..,

They waited until the end of the season to pursue surgery …. Which apparently has been unsuccessful and the Tigers are stuck now with a couple of below average players at the position with Toa and Doobie …

I like Richo … but WTF?

 

[cone]

Has it taken all off-season to get to this stage where it’s looking like he is finished , but there are no options available now on the market to replace him?

The whole Olam experience has been a head scratcher … even us dopes here knew there were major red flags about his knee injury before he signed … he was clearly hampered by his injuries during his one week in, two weeks out playing career with the Tigers, but apparently they thought he was just going to get magically better on his own..,

They waited until the end of the season to pursue surgery …. Which apparently has been unsuccessful and the Tigers are stuck now with a couple of below average players at the position with Toa and Doobie …

I like Richo … but WTF?

Us dopes 😂

 

[twentyforty]

This dope is finding it hard to join the dots too.
If we’re paying the entire contract it equates to $138k per game, compared to a fit Luai at $50k per game.
I know the clubs are competing hard against each other, but at the same time, there’s always an opportunity for some quid pro quo between old mates?

 

[magpies forever]

Hang on, it

Has it taken all off-season to get to this stage where it’s looking like he is finished , but there are no options available now on the market to replace him?

The whole Olam experience has been a head scratcher … even us dopes here knew there were major red flags about his knee injury before he signed … he was clearly hampered by his injuries during his one week in, two weeks out playing career with the Tigers, but apparently they thought he was just going to get magically better on his own..,

They waited until the end of the season to pursue surgery …. Which apparently has been unsuccessful and the Tigers are stuck now with a couple of below average players at the position with Toa and Doobie …

I like Richo … but WTF?

Hang on, it is normal practice to hold major remedial surgery over to the off season. This was done in Olams case WT were just doing what every other club does. Olam does not seem to have been able to recover well and now his other knee is playing up- quite possibly from the extra strain being put on it when other knee out of commission. It would seem his signing was not wise, and his medical clearance having severe doubt cast on it. Having said that, I hope it turns out ok for Olam, I don't wish crippling knee problems on anyone, especially having that myself. If he seeks medical retirement I wish him well and I trust the club is already seeking replacement options. Just predictable bad luck but I still reckon it was worth the chance if the end of season op had turned out well for the club and Olam. Looks like it hasn't though.